Improvement in the construction of houses



6Sheets--Sheet1. T. W. H. MSELEY.

. Construction of Houses.

140,942. Patented1u`ly15,1873.

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T. w. H. MOSELEY. Construction of Houses.

No.140,942. v PatentedJu|y15,-1s7s.

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T. W. H. MOSELEY.

Gunstruction of Houses. No. 140,942. Patenfedjulywnan.

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AM. P//oTa-LrrHosRAPH/c co. lv. Mose ann/els P/eacsss) l 6Sheets-Sheet4. T. W. H.MOSELEY. Construction of Houses. N0 140,942- Patentedjuly15,873.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

6Sheets--Sheet'6. T., W. H. MSELEY.

Construction of Houses.

No. 140,942 Y 4 Paiemedlulywmsvs.

WITNEssEsS INVENTOR:

Wax/wv i BM .flttarneya AM. P/foTainHoeHAPH/c ca MY. ossa/wels PRocsss THOMAS H.MOSELEY, OF HYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,942, dated July l5, 1873 application filed June 17, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. H. Mosa- LEY, of Hyde Park, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in. the Construction of Buildings, of which the following is a speeiiication: V

My improvements relate in part to the construction of floors and roofs with parallel beams or framing enveloped by a body of cement, which fills the spaces between the said beams, and completely covers the upper and under surfaces of the iioor or roof, strips being laid across the joists at proper intervals to receive the flooring-boards or sheathing, as the case may be. Myinvention further relates to covering a Mansard or other roof and rendering the same fire-proof and weather-proof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures l and 2 are transverse sections illustrating the roof under different modications. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are perspective views of the roof under diii'erent modifications. Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of portions of the frame-work.

of the roof. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the floor.

The iioors are constructed with joists D, an inch thick, of any desired width, set on edge an inch apart, and having the spaces between them completely filled with cement H, compounded as hereinafter described. The said cement, being spread over the entire upper and lower surfaces, forms ofthe doors a solid iireprooi' structure. Above the joists D are secured transverse strips T, to which the iioorin g-boards L are nailed. The cement His laid flush with the upper surface of the strips T, and any necessary thickness of .said cement interposed between the strips and the tops of the joists D as a further safeguard against the communication of :tire from one story to another.

The frame-work of my Mansard roof admits of divers modifications in construction, all, however, embodying the more essential principles. I vary the modes according to the amount of strength required, and according to other circumstances.

My preferred method is illustrated in Fig. 3. The uprights Q are arranged all around the roof an inch apart, inclining inward to form.

the slope of the Mansard, and separated at their heels by parting-strips q, where they are nailed to the wall-plates P on the level of the upper floor. Their upper ends are nailed to the rafters R, which form the bed of the roof and the projecting eaves, and afford attachment for the gutters Gr. This system I prefer to finish with the cement composition hereinafter described, on the same principle as the floors. Where the solid composite or rafter system in the Mansard is not used in a roof,

I cover the same with slate, tin, or gravel; and e, i

to make this measurably fire-proof, I first plaster the outside wall, and nail on a gutter, G, of metal, with a iiange extending fromone to twoinches upon the rafters, covering the eaves 5 then nail down the board sheathing E, Figs. 3 and 5; and on this sheathing I nail a narrow plate, V, of thin metal, say six to eight inches in width, and lap the lower edge down over the sheathingboards E into the gutters G. When gravel is used I again nail another thin sheet of metal, V', in the sheathing, its lower edge having a slight iiange turned up to retain the tar and gravel W. Nails are driven along close'to the flange, and the longer part of the sheet turned up, the felting laididown, and then the longer edge of the metal sheet straightened back iiat on the felt and then nailed. The tar and gravel are then put on, and a inish made of the roof, thus excluding from the eaves, by the trough and metal strips, any flames coming from a neighboring building that may be on re.

Fig. 4 shows two pieces, Q1, nailed together, forming a post of T-shape in its cross-section, the stem passing upward between the two parts of the double rafter, and being made longer than the iiange, on which latter the rafter rests. Between these posts short horizontal planks B are fitted, separated by strips C', thus forming a skeleton for the reception of the continuous body of cement H2, as before explained, dispensing with the need of lathing, and making a finish inside and out.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 show various modes of producing a sloping exterior and vertical interior to the roof, and these modes admit of other equivalent modifications. Fig. 5 shows two parallel strips, forming a vertical post, Q2, for the wall, and a single brace or"spurshore,7

stron.

Q3, giving the external slope to the root'. Figs. 6 and 7 show a single vertical strip and two as the brace or spur-shore, Fig. 6 illustrating, further, the mode of forming a corner. A more simple form is produced of a single strip for the post, and one for the brace or spur-shore; still another modification is formed by the omission of the standard Q?, shown in Fig. 7, and these will suggest others. All these frames, studs,or posts form supports for rafters R, made of two pieces of board laid edgewise, one on each side of the upright of the standard or spur-shore, which may be used for the purpose, passing up between the two rafter-pieces. When partitions are used at the center, the rafters rest on such partitions, ties are inserted between the ends of the members of the rafter at the ridge, and so nailed as to make aiirm, secure roof. When no par tition is used, I employ a truss to support the ridge, as shown in It in Fig. 4. y

The filling for my floor I form of the following ingredients, or their equivalents: Sand, four parts; lime, fire-clay, plaster of Paris, and hydraulic cement, each one part, and a sufficient quantity of hair, tow, or any suitable fiber, the whole being of course mixed with water to a proper consistency for cement.

This compound produces a perfectly lire-proof floor, so as to preclude the possibility of the communication of tire from one story to another, through the floor or ceiling, under ordinary circumstances.

I employ the same composition for the body of the iilling for my Mansard or other roof. On the surface of the roof I then apply a priming-coat made of pine-tar and residuum of linseed-oil in equal parts. Upon this I apply a final coat of equal parts of putty and residuum, if the roof is oi' moderate slope or upon a steep roof a composition of three parts of resin and one of pine-tar, a sucient quantity of sand to give body being applied in the same manner.

The following is claimed as new:

l. The composite iiooring and rooting, constructed of parallel beams, filling and coating of cement, and strips T, substantially as spec itied.

2. The combination of the felt U, or its equivalent, gutter G, anged strips V V', and outer coating W, arranged and connected as set forth.

THOS. W. H. MOSELEY. Witnesses:

Oo'rAViUs KNIGHT, WALTER ALLEN. 

